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Thursday 30 July 2015

Dolmabahce: Dolmabahce Palace and Dolmabahce Mosque

From outside

Dolmabahce is a neighbourhood at Besiktas. It has a beautiful view with historical sights. Dolmabahce is the place where Sultan Mehmet II set foot on Istanbul. It is said that the neighbourhood that was formed by filling earth at the reign of Sultan Ahmet I or Sultan Osman II.

No photo is allowed inside. You cannot visit Selamlik and Harem by yourself. You should join a tour with guide. The tickets are sold with different options. If you have time and money, I suggest you to buy a full ticket which allows you to visit both Selamlik and harem, also the Painting Museum. The outside of the palace is very nice, so you will have a great time when not visiting the buildings.

From inside

Dolmabahce Palace


Dolmabahce Palace is on the Marmara coast. It is on the opposite of Uskudar and Salacak. When you are on a Besiktas-Kadikoy or Besiktas-Uskudar ferry, you also see it from the sea. This is a palace sultans lived after they left Topkapi Palace, just like Yildiz Palace.

Before Dolmabahce Palace, the area was a cove where Ottoman fleet used to anchor. It became a marsh over time. The cove began to be filled in 17th century, and was used as the private garden of the sultan. There were kiosks and pavilions scattered then.

It is unknown, when those buildings were destroyed and the excavation started. But according to some records, the palace was in place in 1842. But a French nomad says that the palace was still decorated and there was still no furniture in 1853. (Perhaps the government was out of money.)

After Ottomans, the palace was still used to entertain important guests. Ataturk stayed there, when he came to Istanbul. He spent his last days at Dolmabahce Palace and died there on November 10, 1938. You can see the room and the bed (as well as his study room), while you are visiting the museum,

There are some animals on the yard of Glassed Kiosk

Buildings


Clock Tower: This is probably the first thing that catches your eye about Dolmabahce Palace, even when you're not thinking to visit the palace. The dates are between 1890-1895 and like the palace, at the reign of Abdulmecit. The architect is Sarkis Balyan. It is a very impressive clock tower with all its details. Below it, there is a cosy café with a sea view.



Selamlık: Selamlik is generally a building, reserved for men at Ottomans. The sultan used to host his political guests here and there used to be diplomatic meeting. Women weren't allowed to enter this building. The selamlik of Dolmabahce Palace is quite extensive. Single visits aren't allowed. You should join an English (or a Turkish) tour with a guide. I think it is better to do that way, because you can have more information about the details.



Harem: Harem is generally the building, reserved for women (except the Sultan and eunuchs). Dolmabahce Harem has a couple of windows that allowed women watch the meeting from above the big hall. Dolmabahce Palace continued to be active, even after Ottoman Empire collapsed. Harem is also special for Turkish Republic, because Ataturk used to stay here at his Istanbul visits. At the tour, you will be able to see the bed he died, his study and his bathroom.



Painting Museum: This is one of the most impressive museums I've seen in Istanbul. If you aren't much into painting, it is still good. If you are into painting, you'll love it. There are about 200 original paintings in the museum, including Ottoman painters and foreign painters who painted for Ottomans. There are 11 galleries that are Sultan Abdulmecid, Westernization in Ottomans, Istanbul views from Abdulmecid, the paintings that were taken from Goupil gallery, Ivan Konstantinoviç Ayvazovski, imperial painters, orientalist painters, assistant painters, Turkish painters (1870-1890), the landscape at Ottoman Empire, Turkish painters (1890-1930).

This is in front of Selamlik (not from Painting Museum)

Clock Museum: This is an interesting museum with original clocks and watches. There are automatic machines from 18-19th century, glorious mechanics made by French masters, and beautiful works of Mawlawi watch makers from 19th century. 71 clocks and watches are displayed at the museum. Unfortunately, I couldn't make a way inside it. All the doors were closed and the building was surrounded with a fence.



Glassed Kiosk: This was the Ottomans' window to the world and the equal of regiment kiosk at Dolmabahce Palace. Sultans used to watch the parades from inside. There are two transitive halls and a glasshouse in the building. You can see animal reliefs, fireplaces, coffee tables and so on as decorations. There is a little pool in its garden and many animals, including a peacock, roosters, ducks, and pheasants.

Glassed Kiosk from outside

Dolmabahce Mosque


The construction of the mosque was started by the the mother of Sultan Abdulmecid, Bezmialem Valide Sultan. After her death Sultan Abdulhamid took over the project. Architect Garabet Balyan decorated the mosque. It was opened to worship in 1855.

It began to be used as Naval Museum after 1948. Following 27 May Coup in 1960, the mosque was evacuated and the Naval Museum was carried to Besiktas centre. The mosque became famous again at Gezi Park incidents.


Sunday 26 July 2015

Anadolukavagi: A Lovely Fishermen's Village at Anatolian Coast


Anadolukavagi is a neighbourhood of Beykoz. It is a touristic village with nice restaurants that serve sea food, as well as Yoros Castle.


Yoros Castle


This is a castle dates back to the Eastern Roman Empire times. After the empire weakened, the Genoese took hold of the castle. So, many people mistaken it for a Geneose castle. The area the castle covers is the largest, compared to the other castles in and around Istanbul. Some of the interior towers are still intact, and there are some Greek inscriptions on them. The origin of its name isn't for sure. It may be Hieron that means "sacred place", the nick name of Zeus that is "proper winds", or oros that means "mountain".

The castle isn't cared for how it should be, but at least it isn't idle. The archaeological studies are still going on, and it is forbidden to go in. However, I was lucky a couple of years ago. I was mistaken for an "Australian" and the door keeper let me and my friend in. So, long before the idea of this blog occurred, I had photos of Yoros Castle from inside. Enjoy the one below.


How to get to Anadolu Kavagi


There are two ways to go to Anadolu Kavagi: one from the road, one from the sea. If you take the road, you need to come to Kavacik and there you should get on 15A, Anadolukavagi bus. It is a frequent line, but you may stuck in the traffic. If you want to come with ferry, you can get on the Bosphorus line from whatever port it stops. The ferries aren't as frequent as buses, but if you don't have any hurry, I suggest you to prefer ferries for a scenic trip.

Rumelikavagi for the Best Mussel


Rumelikavagi is a neighbourhood between Sariyer centre and Rumelifeneri. It is famous for its mussels and pearls. There are many restaurants with sea food.

The neighbourhood is normally isn't crowded, but it gets crowded at weekends. So, you may need to go there early to get a table with a nice view.

You can try mussels at Rumelikavagi. The famous mussels are also sent around Istanbul, but I don't know where else you can eat them.

There are some beaches of Rumelikavagi, one of which belongs to military, so you cannot enter it. You can try other beaches.


How to get to Rumelikavagi


There are two ways to go to Rumelikavagi: one from the sea, one from the road. If you take the road, you'll get on 25A from Haciosman Metro stop. It is quite a frequent line. If you decide to come with ferry, you will get on the Bosphorus line, which isn't as frequent as the bus, but much more scenic.


Friday 24 July 2015

Topkapi Palace: The Living History and Luxury



Topkapi Palace is the palace where was used as the headquarters of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years out of 600 years, and where sultans had lived. Over 4000 thousand people lived in it. Then the priorities changed and the sultans moved to Dolmabahce Palace and Yildiz Palace.

Topkapi Palace covers a large area that has a great view of the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus, and the Golden Horn. The area which the palace is spread, Sarayburnu, used to be the Byzantian acropolis. The mosaics from the Great Palace of Byzantium is exhibited at the Museum of Great Palace Mosaics. From the palace, you can also see some of the city walls.


History


Topkapi Palace was made built by Sultan Mehmed II in 1478. It was originally 700.000 m2 in total. (Today it is 80.000 m2.) The palace was opened to visit as a museum at the reign of Abdulmecit. It was opened to public in October 9th, 1924 by the decision of Ataturk. It is one of the most important buildings in the Historical Peninsula, which is a part of UNESCO World Heritage List.


Sections


You enter the palace from the Imperial Gate. There are different doors opening to different buildings. There are four yards in total. At the first yard, there is the area where the regiment used to gather.

The buildings around the palace are: Otluk Gate, Balikhane Gate, Haseki Bath, Regiment Kiosk, Zeynep Sultan Mosque, Sogukcesme Gate, Hagia Sophia, Ahmet III Fountain, Ahirkapi Lighthouse, Pearly Kiosk, Wooden Gate, Main Garden, Sevkiye Kiosk, Ministers Gate, old boat houses, Sepetciler Mansion, Yali Kiosk, Iron Gate, Yalikosku Gate, New Mint, Mint Kiosk, Gulhane Kiosk, the Column of Goths, Tiled Kiosk, Revan Kiosk, Baghdad Kiosk, Kiosk of Osman III, Sofa Kiosk, Lala Garden.



The buildings inside the palace are: the Imperial Gate, the kitchen wing, the Imperial Building, Submission Chamber, Fatih Kiosk, Hekimbasi Chamber, Agalar Mosque, Internal Treasure, Raht Treasure, Main Barn, Kubbealti (under the dome), the Library of Ahmed III, Circumcision Resting Room, and the Kiosk of Murad III. (Kiosks make you sigh and dream how it would be to live at any of those.)

Harem part is inside the palace; however, you have to buy an additional ticket. It is a little bit expensive, compared to the whole palace, but it is worth to see where the odalisques used to live.


Sacred Relics Chamber


This section is very important for the Islamic world. Sultans used to visit it on every Ramadan. (I also visited it at Ramadan, following the tradition.) The relics were brought from different Islamic states to Istanbul, after Sultan Selim's conquest of Egypt in 1517.

The relics that are being exhibited in the chamber are: the mantle of Muhammed, the golden chest where the mantle is kept, the foot print of Muhammed, hairs from the beard of Muhammed, part of Muhammed's tooth, soil from the grave of Muhammed, the seal of Muhammed, the sandals of Muhammed, the handle of His sword, His swords, arch and bow, the swords of Davud, Ibrahim, Yusuf, Ali, Ebu Bekir, locks and keys from Kaaba, a door from Kaaba, the container of the Black Stone, the mantle of Fatma...

Normally, taking photos is strictly forbidden, but everybody tries to take a secret shot.

Spoonmaker's Diamond


This is one of the most famous 22 diamonds in the world. It is 86 carat, and it is decorated with 49 diamonds. It is exhibited at one of the Treasure Chambers. The origin of its name isn't for sure, but the most logical explanation that its shape looks like a spoon. How the diamond reached to Topkapi Palace is also a rumour. Some people say it was bought from Napoleon's mothers, whereas some others say that it was found by a spoon seller who didn't know the real value of the diamond. The museum also holds this story.

It is also forbidden to take photos of the diamond and other treasures, but taking secret photos of the diamond is much more harder. It is like the Mona Lisa of the Topkapi Palace, so it is very well protected.

Where is Topkapi Palace?


Topkapi Palace is almost next to Istanbul Archaelogical Museums, and Gulhane Park. So, you can reach there like you reach those places. The Kabatas-Bagcilar tram has both Gulhane and Sultanahmet stops. Either ways, you'll have to walk a couple of minutes. You can look around the old city, while you're walking.


Istanbul Archaelogical Museums

Istanbul Archaelogy Museums are three buildings that are all in one place, but have properties of their own: Main Building, Old Eastern Works Museum, and Tiled Kiosk Museum. First two have ancient works, the other one dates back to the Conquest of Istanbul.

This is one of my favourite museums in Istanbul. You can find hundreds of works from Ancient Greek, Roman Empire, Byzantium, and also from the ancient civilizations of the Middle East. You can also follow the history of Istanbul-Constantinople. Don't forget to walk around the yard, where there are many artefacts exhibited at open air.

Main Building

History


Actually, historical works were being traced since Sultan Mehmet II. However, systematical museology started in 1869, when the Ottoman Empire Museum was founded. All the works that had been collected at Hagia Irene Church formed the formation of that museum. The museum is reopened in 1872, and the Tiled Kiosk, which stayed idle for centuries is opened in 1880.

Famous painter Osman Hamdi Bey made a breakthrough in 1881, after he became the museum director. He gathered works from all around Turkey (like Nemrut Mountain and ancient cities, such as Myrina, Kyme) in the museum. He made some works like the Tomb of Alexandre be returned to Istanbul.

Tiled Kiosk

A floor that is all about Istanbul


If you are particularly interested in Istanbul, the Main Building will serve you more than an archaelogical museum. The second floor of the building is all about the history of Istanbul. The finding are exhibited in a very organized manner. As an Istanbulite, I even got surprised to see and read some things about my hometown, and this visit will probably guide me to the future blog posts I'll write.


Where are Istanbul Archaelogical Museums?


It is very easy to get to the museums. The museum is very close to Gulhane Park. You have three options: You can either come directly with tram to the Gulhane stop, come downwards from Sultanahmet, or walk upwards from Sirkeci.

Warning: As June 2015, the Main Building is under construction. Some parts and some works, such as the tomb of Alexandre unfortunately cannot be seen.

A statue from the yard

Thursday 23 July 2015

Anadolu Hisari: The Fortress on the Anatolian Side


When you say Anadolu Hisari, it means the fortress. When you say Anadoluhisari, it means the district. I'll mainly tell you about the sight, but also mention the district.


The Fortress


It is on the spot where Goksu Stream pours into the Marmara Sea. Like Rumeli Hisari (but before that), it was built on the narrowest part of Bosphorus. It was built in 1395, at the reign of Yildirim Beyazid. Passing from Bosphorus was important for the Genoese, who were allied with Eastern Romans. However, it was also important for the Ottomans. After the conquest of Istanbul, the fortress lost its importance. Unfortunately, it wasn't lucky as Rumeli Hisari, which is being used as a concert arena and open air museum. It is mostly a ruin and there is a road passing in the middle of it.


The District


It is between Kanlica and Kandilli. Goksu Stream is the distinctive geographical element there. It was sure cleaner and more beautiful at the past, based on the Kucuksu Pavilion.

Kucuksu Pavilion was built by Nikogos Balyan by the order of Abdulmecit in 1856. Its previous name was Goksu Pavilion. Pavilions were thought to belong to sultans apart from the palace, and they were larger than the kiosks. Today, there is a cosy tea house/café on its yard and the pavilion is used for weddings. I recommend you to drink tea or coffee next to the sea. The prices are reasonable.

The area between Goksu Stream and Kucuksu Stream is called Kucuksu Meadow. Next to the pavilion is Kucuksu Fountain, namely Mihrisah Valide Sultan Fountain.


How to get to Anadolu Hisari?


The Beykoz buses that follow the coastal road will pass from Anadolu Hisari. Beware that the road is narrow and the traffic jam is very heavy on week ends. 15F is the line between Kadikoy and Beykoz. You can also use the ferry which is much more scenic, but it is less frequent than the bus lines.

Rumeli Hisari: The Fortress on the European Side


When you say Rumeli Hisari, it means the fortress. When you say Rumelihisari, it means the district. I'll mainly tell you about the sight, but also mention the district.


The Fortress


Sultan Mehmet II made it built before the conquest of Istanbul, in order to prevent the attacks that may come from the north of Bosphorus, the narrowest part of it. It is just on the opposite of Anadolu Hisari. The construction finished on August 31, 1452. It was built in ninety days. It has three big towers and the biggest bastions in the world. The fortress is now a concert arena. Artillery, cannon balls, and the chain that is thought to be used to block the Golden Horn are exhibited on the yard.


The District


Rumelihisari is a coastal district with many restaurant choices. You can have a great breakfast with the view, or delicious lunch and dinner. The prices may be a little bit higher than usual because of the view, but I think it's usually worth it. The district is also very close to Bogazici University.


How to get to Rumeli Hisari?


The Sariyer buses that follow the coastal road will pass from Rumeli Hisari. Beware that the road is narrow and the traffic jam is very heavy on week ends. You can also use the ferry which is much more scenic, but it is less frequent than the bus lines. If you don't like the traffic, you can try to reach there backwards. You can get on the Haciosman metro and there, you can take a Sariyer bus and then go to Rumeli Hisari.

Wednesday 22 July 2015

A Practical Route for Visitors Who Have Only One Full Day to Spent in Istanbul


Not all of us have much time to spend in a city. Istanbul, is both luckily and unfortunately is a complicated city with lots of sights. However, I'll offer you a one-day-route that will make possible for you the say "I visited Istanbul".

So, let's begin.


First stop: Historical Peninsula


Before we start the tour: Choose your hotel wisely. Sultanahmet hotels have many choices, but you can try Beyazit or Laleli, which are also close so that you won't spend much time on the way to Sultanahmet.

If you try to visit every single of the museums at Sultanahmet, a whole day wouldn't be enough for you. So, if you aren't into archaeology, you may not insist to visit Istanbul Archaeological Museums (though, I would never recommend you to skip it). Both Istanbul Archaeological Museums and Topkapi Palace take at least three hours with even fast pace.


Keep in mind that Istanbul is a very crowded city with locals and tourists, so you may have to wait in the long queues. Basilica Cistern is one of the places you should visit, and it takes really short time, but it has a limited capacity that causes long queues.

Don't skip Hagia Sophia ever. It also won't take much of your time. You can add your tour Sultanahmet Mosque, or the Blue Mosque, as you probably know it. If you have time, you can add Hagia Irene to your plan.

Don't forget to walk former Hippodrome arena. There you have three columns to see: Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpent Column, and Walled Obelisk. And a fountain: German Fountain.

If you are lucky and you managed to visit those places until 2 or 3 o'clock. You may hurry to see the Museum of Great Palace Mosaics, and Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum.


Second stop: Istiklal Street


You shouldn't be too late for Istiklal Street, because there also museums and churches to visit there. I suggest you to start from Galata, so you can finish your tour on Taksim Square. Then if you should get going, you'll be only five minutes walk to Havatas buses, which takes you to either Ataturk International Airport, or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport.

If you have time and energy, you can walk down from Sultanahmet, passing from Gulhane, Sirkeci, Eminonu, and Karakoy. You can stop by the New Mosque and the Egyptian Bazaar at Eminonu. The Grand Bazaar will take longer when you walk, but if you are staying at a Beyazit hotel, you may put it first on your list before Sultanahmet.

You can also directly take the tram to Karakoy. Then if you take the historical Tunnel, you'll miss Galata Tower and the Mawlawi House Museum. The way up to the Istiklal Street from Karakoy is a little bit steep. You can also walk down after the Tunnel, but you'll have to walk the half way again. Choose how you like it.


Istiklal Street is mainly famous for its restaurants and bars that obviously get better after evening. So, you don't have to hurry to eat and drink something. Sights first! Then, you'll relax.

Just walk slowly in order not to miss the obvious sights. There are many sights on side streets, but we'll focus on the main street for the sake of time. The Church of St. Mary Draperis will be on the right and it won't take much of your time. You also need to hurry to see the Church of St. Anthony of Padua, which is on your way on the right. You should plan accordingly.



Istiklal Street is also famous for its passages, so you may see a couple of them. Hacopulo Passage is one of the most famous and cosiest passages around. So, you may take a tea break there, and may be you may find some souvenirs.

Asmalimescit, Algerian Street, and the Flower Passage are beautiful places, but you may only take photos of their facades, and return later for food and drink. You may finish your tour with Holy Trinity Church and Taksim Square (and maybe additionally Gezi Park, if you're interested).

P.S.: If you have to days, you may try this solution: for one day Sultanahmet and for the other day Istiklal Street. Have fun!


Thursday 16 July 2015

Best City Hotels For Relaxing Massages



Istanbul can be a stressful city. If you are living in Istanbul for a long time, you feel urgent need to massages. Of course, everyone who comes to visit Istanbul for whatever time can benefit from relaxing massages.

I've been a couple of massage parlours, all of which were downstairs of a city hotel. I haven't been to independent massage parlours, because I have a feeling that the quality will be better not to defame the hotel itself.

Talimhane hotels


There are many hotels at Talimhane, most of which looks luxurious. So, I had kept away from them, until my family bought me a massage from a discount web site. I made a reservation at an incorrect hotel. Then I met "Avantgarde Hotel". The massage was fine, the parlous was a little bit complex and crowded. Then I found the correct hotel: Ramada Hotel (Talimhane, not Pangalti). This time parlour was better and the massage was very good.

Both of the hotels above hire at least one East Asian masseuse. The prices were rather economic, compared to the services (massage, sauna, pool, herbal tea). I haven't tried other hotels yet, but I think the prices and the services won't change dramatically.

Almost all the city hotel like Talimhane hotels, Taksim hotels, Pera Hotels and Sultanahmet hotels have SPA centres inside them. If you are staying farther than the city centre, such as at Avcilar hotels or airport hotels, you should look for more elaborated SPA centres and fitness centres to make the most of your time.

Traditional Turkish Food

Iskender Kebap

Istanbul has many choices about food. If you may not be into trying different tastes, you can eat something you know, such as global fast food. There are many people who don't trust the hygiene and don't try traditional food. But you don't need to worry much. You can look for the comments at web sites and mobile apps to be sure.

Don't forget that you are at a special taste stop. If I were you, I wouldn't go back without putting on some weight!

While you're walking in Istanbul, you'll see everywhere foods with different names. You're so hungry, but you don't know which is available for you. Okay then, we will introduce you some of our traditional foods, maybe with a couple of suggestions.

Chicken Shish Kebap

Kebap


When somebody says Turkish traditional food, probably the first thing that comes into mind is "sis kebap", doesn't it? Actually, "kebap" means meat food which is cooked by barbecue, wood oven and the like.

There are so many kebap types. The most popular ones are Adana Kebabi, Cağ Kebabi, Doner Kebap, İskender Kebabi, Kağıt Kebabi, Testi Kebabi, Urfa Kebabi. They are many differences between them, based on the ingredients and baking method. When they are cooked with skewers, they becaome shish kebaps.

Urfa Kebabi and Adana Kebabi are cousins. Keep this mind: Adana Kebabi is the spicy one. If you don't like hot, order Urfa Kebabi. I don't want to bore you explaining every single kebap, but if you wonder any of them, you can ask us, we will reply you gladly.

Lahmacun

Lahmacun, Etli Ekmek, Pide


I gathered these all in one title, because their main ingredient is "pita" bread. Lahmacun is a thin pita with ground meat, spices and some other ingredients on it. Some restaurants offer a vegetarian version of it with cheese on. Some people call it Turkish pizza, but you don't cut it in triangles like pizza. You roll it.

Now pita gets thicker. Pide is pita in Turkish, but it may mean two things. There is plain pide that is put under İskender kebaps or shish kebaps. There is the other pide with various ingredients. With eggs, with ground meat, with meat cubes (my favourite and mostly the most expensive), etc.

Etli ekmek (meaty bread) is a speciality of Konya. It looks like pide but it is closed and made with meat only. If you are a vegetarian, this doesn't have a cheese or vegetable option.

Pita used as bread

Pastries


Turkish kitchen cannot be thought without pastries. There are both salty appetizers and desserts with sorbet. (We'll mention desserts in another post.)

Phyllo is frequently used in Turkish kitchen. Sigara boregi is wrapped phyllo with cheese and parsley. Su boregi is layered phyllo with cheese or ground meat, and looks juicy. Kol boregi is wrapped and then twisted phyllo with cheese, ground meat, spinach or potato. Talas boregi has green peas with meat in it. There are probably hundreds of "borek"s, so let's stop with these popular ones.

Gozleme is a very thin phyllo wrapped usually with cheese, potato, spinach or yellow cheese, and cooked on a sheet metal. It is rather delicious and cheap.

Pogaca, acma and simit are the pastries you'll see on every baker's shop windows. Turkish people prefer to choose one of these and have breakfast with black tea. Pogaca is more salty, and can be plain, or stuffed with cheese or potato. Acma is a soft and oily bagel that is usually plain, or stuffed with olive, yellow cheese, or chocolate. Simit is a usually hard bagel that is usually decorated with sesame (there are different local simits). Simit isn't filled with anything, but it is very common to use it for making sandwiches

Manti is a pastry that is made by filling little dough pieces with ground meat and spices and cooked in boiled water. It is served with garlicky yoghurt and oily spicy sauce. It is very delicious, but be careful: it is a diet enemy.

Stuffed vegetables (Dolma)


Stuffed vegetables are very popular in Turkey. If they are cooked with olive oil, they are eaten cold. If they are cooked with sunflower seed oil or some other oil, it is eaten warm. Warm ones usually contain ground meat. Most popular vegetables for stuffing are bell pepper (with different colours, paprika, zucchini, eggplant, tomato and potato.

Stuffed grape leaves (yaprak sarması) actually isn't a dolma in Turkish kitchen; it is a wrap. You can eat it hot (with ground meat) or cold with olive oil and no meat. I prefer the one that is cooked with olive oil, but try both. It is delicious in every way.

Vegetable Dishes


In Turkish kitchen almost every vegetable is cooked in two basic ways: with olive oil to be eaten cold, and with another oil or butter to be eaten warm and usually contains meat or ground meat.

French beans are no exception. In my opinion, they are the most delicious when cooked in olive oil.

Maybe I should write a new article only for eggplant, because it is a fixture of Turkish kitchen. There are almost a hundred different eggplant dishes. From main course to meze (appetizer for alcoholic drinks), from stuffed to mashed.

Spinach and purslane are two of the most popular herb dishes. They are usually served with yoghurt. Yoghurt is also an important part of Turkish kitchen.

Okra, architoke and celery are other popular vegetables used in meals.

Meatball (Kofte)


A meatball is basically a piece of ground meat mixed with other ingredients like spices, eggs, stale bread, and given round, oval or rectangular shapes with hands (there are machines to do that, but hands are more appreciated).

There are innumerable meatballs, including the local ones. Some popular meatballs are icli köfte, cig kofte, kadınbudu kofte, Tekirdag koftesi, Inegol kofte and Akçaabat koftesi.


Dried Beans


That is not actually a speciality of us, but it is very famous in Turkey. Dried bean is used mainly at two dishes in Turkey: as main course and as a salad (or meze, the appetizers eaten with alcoholic drink, especially raki).

We say to bean salad "kuru fasulye pilaki", in short the dried bean is boiled and added carrot, potato, onion, garlic, carrot in it. It is eaten as cold. It goes well with ayran.

I think one of the best places to eat dried bean as a main course is the restaurants next to Suleymaniye Mosque. There you'll both enjoy the meal and the view.

Other legumes that are consumed frequently in Turkey are cranberry beans, green beans, chickpeas (both as a dish and a dried nut), lentils (both main course and soup).

Afiyet olsun! (Good appetite!)

Tuesday 14 July 2015

Which Museums Are Open During Ramadan Feast 2015?

The entrance of Topkapi Palace

Istanbul celebrates Ramadan Feast, as it happens to be at Turkey in general. Ramadan Feast is the end of the one-month-fasting and Muslims celebrate it for three days. Ramadan Feast is also called the candy fast, regarding to the colourful candies given as gifts. However, conservative people don't like that name. So, try to call it Ramadan Feast just in case.

At Ramadan Feast, many places are closed, including some museums. Some places are only closed at certain days or at certain hours. I'll write when some of the important museums of Istanbul are open during the Ramadan Feast so that you can make your plans accordingly.

Istanbul Archaelogy Museum (main building)

16th July, 2015 - Eve (half day holiday)
17th July, 2015 - 1st Day of Ramadan Feast
18th July, 2015 - 2nd Day of Ramadan Feast
19th July, 2015 - 3rd Day of Ramadan Feast

Hagia Sophia Museum

Topkapi Palace: It opens at 13:00 on 17th July. It is open on 18th and 19th of July.

Basilica Cistern: It opens at 13:00 on 17th July. It is open on 18th and 19th of July.

Hagia Sophia Museum: It opens at 13:00 on 17th July. It is open on 18th and 19th of July.

Istanbul Archaelogy Museums: It opens at 13:00 on 17th July. It is open on 18th and 19th of July.

Chora Museum: It opens at 13:00 on 17th July. It is open on 18th and 19th of July.

Dolmabahce Palace: It opens at 13:00 on 17th July. It is open on 18th and 19th of July.

The gate of Dolmabahce Palace

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